Impacts of Tetrakis-hydroxymethyl Phosphonium Sulfate (THPS) Based Biocides on the Functional Group Activities of Some Oil Field Microorganisms Associated with Corrosion and Souring

Aim: To determine the biocidal efficacy of THPS based biocides currently used in oil fields to control souring and corrosion.

Methodology: By direct monitoring of inhibition of cell growth and inhibition of microbial functional group activities such as the ability to reduce sulfate and generate sulfide by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), reduce nitrate to nitrite by heterotrophic nitrate reducing bacteria (hNRB) and oxidation of sulfide and reduction of nitrate by sulfide oxidizing, nitrate reducing bacteria( so-NRB) using CSB-K medium.

Results: We observed that higher doses of THPS (>400 ppm) was required to considerably inhibit the ability of SRB to reduce sulfate and generate hydrogen sulfide. It was also observed that the activities of SRB were more affected by the THPS biocides than those of hNRB and so-NRB.

Conclusion: We conclude that SRB may have developed low level microbial resistance to THPS based biocides as higher doses are required to inhibit their activities. It is therefore recommended that THPS should be used in combination with other biocides or metabolic inhibitors for it to be effective at lower concentrations.